Amusement rides now operating at Ogdensburg Seaway Festival

Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - 5:39 pm

By MATT LINDSEY

OGDENSBURG -- Amusement rides are now operating in Library Park as the 54th Seaway Festival continues.

The rides feature “everything you’d expect to see at a local fair from a tilt-a-whirl to a merry-go-round,” according to event organizer Chris Cole. The rides will be open through Saturday with hours from noon to 11 p.m.

Senior citizens will compete on Thursday night during the “great toilet paper toss” at Library Park.

“About 50 to 60 seniors usually compete in games like throwing a roll of toilet paper through a toilet seat. Picture someone throwing a football through a tire,” Cole said.

Other competitions will be who can throw a roll of toilet paper the farthest and a horsehoe-style game, Cole said.

The karaoke finals will be held Friday followed by “The Rochester Rat Pack” who will pay tribute to Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack. The concert will be at the Greenbelt Park main stage from 8 to 9:45 p.m.

A fireworks show will take place around 9:45 p.m.

A parade on Saturday will proceed down Ford Street starting at 11 a.m.

“All fire departments in the county have been invited and their will be high school bands, as well as a 200 member Chinese-Oriental band from Toronto,” Cole said.

The parade usually lasts around 2 hours, according to Cole.

A car show and fourth annual duck race will close out the festival on Sunday.

“Hundreds of cars will be displayed on land near the bridge,” Cole said.

The duck race will see nearly 1,000 ducks poured in the river near the City docks.

Ducks cost $5 each and cash prizes will be given including $100 for first place.

“The festival keeps growing every year and the population doubles in during the festival,” Cole said.